GB2399649A

GB2399649A - Camera for use by left and right-handed users

Info

Publication number: GB2399649A
Application number: GB0402346A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas W Yip
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2003-02-21
Filing date: 2004-02-03
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2024-02-03
Also published as: DE10353368A1; FR2851664A1; GB0402346D0; US7151571B2; FR2851664B1; US20040165107A1; GB2399649B

Abstract

A digital camera (10) for use by both left-handed and right-handed users has a body section (30) and a handgrip section (20) connected by a rotary joint (50). The handgrip section carries a power button (21), a shutter button (23) and a swivel lock (25). The body section has a liquid crystal display (32) may have two separate flash units (45a,45b).

Description

DIGITAL CAI\,IERA FOR USE BY RIGHT

HANDED AND LEFT-HANDED PEOPLE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to digital cameras, and more specifically, to a digital camera that may be used by riht-handed and left-handed users.

1lACK(;ROUND The assignee of the present invention manufactures digital cameras and other computer-related equipment. Currently, most cameras are built for right-handed people with a large grip made for the rigilt hand. Currently, there arc no digital cameras that allow use by both right and left handed users. It would be desirable to have a digital I () camera that allows use by both iet't-handed and right-handed users.

A search regarding the present invention was performed in the US Patent and radernark Of fice and uncovered the following US patents and published applications: IJS Patent No. 6,295,088, US Patent No. 6,079,883, US Patent No. 5,715,491, US Patent No. 4.329,041, US Patent No. 5,52X, 337, US Patent No. 6,226,448, US Patent I 5 No. 5.()43,822, US Patent No. 5.C)46,506, US Patent No. 5,742,341, US Patent No. 4.2()8,113. US Patent No. 4,81 t).() 16, US Patent No. 6,339,447, US Patent No. 6.215.524, US Patent No. 6,323.)()3, and US Patent Application Publication No. 20()01()()54761.

With regard to those niche above-listed patent that appear generally relevant to () the present invention, US Patent No. 4,208,113 discloses a "camera has a housing and a I'-siraped handgrip turnahly mounted can a side wall of the housing. A shutter release

J

element is mounted in the housing." US Patent No. 4,208,113 also discloses that ''1t is already known to provide cameras which detachable handgrips which, moreover, can be turned with reference to the camera housing. The purpose of this is to facilitate the operation of the camera by making the handgrip tamable about an axis which extends transverse (usually in normal) to the optical axis of the camera lens. Because of this the camera can be more conveniently operated while being held in either the left hand or the right hand of a user, and the arrangement also has further advantages in terms of camera operation. " However, US Patent No. 4,208,113 does not disclose or suggest anything regarding digital cameras, liquid crystal display (LCD), batteries, flash units, or a digital camera having multiple flash units.

US Patent No. 5,946,506 discloses a " single lens reflex camera" that "includes a rotatable built-in flash unit." However, US Patent No. 5,946, 506 does not disclose or suggest anything regarding digital cameras, liquid crystal display (LCD), batteries, or a digital camera having multiple flash units.

US Patent Application Publication No. 2002/0054761 discloses a "Photographic camera having lens movement control with pivotable grip surfaces and adjacent shutter release." However, while the handgrip is pivotable, it does not rotate into positions that allow right-hunded and left-handed use of the camera. Also, US Patent Application Publication No. 2009/0054761 does not disclose or suggest anything regarding liquid crystal display (LCD), batteries disposed in a handgrip, or multiple flash units.

US Patent No. 6,295,()8X discloses a "portable electronic device includes a display component and a device aperture component which are mounted on separate segments of the electronic device Each segment can be rotated with respect to the other, thus permitting a user to photograph an object while adjusting the display to a desired viewing condition." However. US Patent No. 6,295,088 does not disclose or suggest a digital camera having multiple flash units that are collocated in a rotatable portion of the camera body containing a liquid crystal display (LCD).

Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide for improved digital camera that may be griplyed and used by both left-handed and right-handed people.

SUMMAR\' OF TIIE INVENTION loo accomplish the ahoy. and otilcr objectives. hc present hvention provides tor a digital camera that is operable by both left-handed to right-handed users. The digital camera has a body design that nav be used as easily by right-handed people as it is for left-handed people. This design employs a swivel mechanism and symmetric placement of major camera hardware components.

More particularly, the present digital camera comprises a handgrip section and a body section that rotate relative to each other. The handgrip section includes a power button having a lock latch, a shutter button, a strap connection, a swivel lock, and a battery compartment for housing batteries. The body section has a rear surface that comprises a liquid crystal display. microphone, joystick pad, zoom control dial, a plurality of buttons for setting functions of the camera, and an output port that may be used to download images to a computer. A lens, which is preferably a zoom lens, extends from a front surface of the camera, and one or more metering elements are disposed on the front surface ot the camera. Upper and lower pop-up flash devices are disposed on upper and lower surt:aces of the cameM.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

I 5 The various features and advantages of the present invention may be more read iiy understood with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which: Fig. I is a rear view of a', cxemplay embodiment of a digital camera in accordance with the principles o! the present invention that is configured for use by a right-handed user; Fig. is a rear view ot the exemplary digital camera configured for use by a lett handed user; Fig. 3 is a front view ol the exemplary digital camera; Fig. is a top view ol the cxcmplary digital camera; and Fig. 5 is a bottom view ol the exctnplay digital camera.

DETAII,IúI) DESCRIPTION

Reterring to the drawim' t igurcs. Fig. I illustrates a perspective-like rear view of 3() an exemplary embodiment ot u digital camera 10 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The digital camcr-a shown in Fi,. I is configured for use by a ri,ht-handed user. Fig. 2 is a perspective- like rear view of the exemplary digital camera configured for use by a lclt-hunded user. Fig. 3, shows a front view of the exemplary digital camera 1(). Ibises. and 5 show top and bottom views, respectively, of 3.s the exemplary digital camera 1 The exemplary digilul c. micra 1() comprises a handgrip section 20 and a body section,0 that rotate relative to Rich other at abutting side surfaces. The handgrip section 20 includes a power button 21 having a lock latch 22, a shutter button 23, a strap connection 24, a swivel lock 25 and a battery compartment 26 for housing batteries 27 (shown in Fig. 3). The swivel lock 25 engages the body section 30 at two locations within the body section 30, one adjacent a rear surface 31 of the camera 10 and one adjacent a front surface 42 of the camera 10.

As is shown in Figs. I and 2, the rear surface 31 of the body section 30 comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD) 32, a rear microphone 33, a joystick pad 34, a zoom control dial 35, a plurality of buttons 36 for setting functions of the camera 10 and an output port 37 for downloading images to a computer, for example. A dual flash comprising upper and lower pop-up flash devices 45a, 45b are disposed on upper and lower surfaces 46, 47 of the camera 10. However, it is to be understood that a single flash device 45a may be used w hich may be disposed in either the handgrip section 20 or preferably the body section 30.

The dual flash may be Implemented with two separate flash devices 45a, 45b mounted on the top and bottom of the camera body section 30 as is illustrated in the drawing figures. Alternatively (shown in Fig. I only), a single flash device 45 or generator 45 may be disposed hi the body section 30 of the camera 10. Light pipes 49 may be used to direct the light llasl1 to whichever of the flash devices 45a, 45b is open.

In this case, the flash devices 45a. 45b are reflectors that reflect the light flash toward the image scene. This reduces the cost ol the camera 10 since only one flash device 45 is needed and since light pipes 4') arc relatively inexpensive.

Referring to Fig. 3, it is a from view of the exemplary digital camera 10. As is shown in Fig. 3, a zoom lens I extends trom the front surface 42 of the camera 10. A shutter 43 is disposed within the IJOdY section 30 that is visible behind the lens 41. One or more metering elements 43 arc disposed on the front surface 42 of the camera 10. A front microphone 44 is disposed on the lront surface 42 of the camera 10. A strap 48 is shown connected to the strap cnnncclion 24.

As is illustrated in Figs. 1-3' the handgrip section 20 and body section 30 rotate relative to each other by means of a rotary joint 5() that is centered relative to the 3() abutting surfaces thereof. A rotund connector 51 is preferably provided adjacent to or is part of the rotary joint 50 that couples battery power from the batteries 27 to the components in the body Scallion '(). In aJdilion, the rotary connector 5 I couples a shutter control signal from shutter button 23 in the handgrip section 20 to the body section 30 to control the shulicr À.

Alternatively, flexibic iring nub be used lo couple power and the shutter signal between the handgrip sections () and body section 30. It is preferred that the handgrip section 20 does not swivel more than 1 S() dc; ,rees in either direction. This prevents the flexible wiring, for example, from getting kinked up if the handgrip section 20 were allowed to freely rotate.

To change the configuration of the camera 10 from right-handed to lefthanded use, a user would disengage the swivel lock 25 and rotate the grip section 20 one hundred-and-eighty (180) degrees clockwise or counterclockwise relative to the body section 30 until the swivel loci}; 95 reengages on the opposite side of the camera 10.

The pop-up flash device 45a at the upper surface 46 of the camera 10 would be closed and the pop-up flash device 451' at the lower surface 47 of the camera 10 would be opened for use.

Thus, a digital camera that may be gripped and used by both left-handed and right-handed people has been liscloscd. It is to be understood that the above-described embodiment is merely illustrative of some of the many specific embodiments that represent applications of the pr Disciples of the present invention. Clearly, numerous and other arrangements can be rcadil! devised by those skilled in the art without departing I S from the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A digital camera (10) comprising: a handgrip section (20) that comprises a power button (21), a shutter button (23), a swivel lock (25) and a battery compartment (26) for housing batteries (27); a body section (30) that rotates relative to the handgrip section at abutting side surfaces thereof and that comprises: a rotary joint (50) that couples the handgrip section to the body section; a rear surface (31) comprising a liquid crystal display (32), a microphone (33), a joystick pad (34), one or more buttons (36) for setting functions of the camera, and an output port (37); a lens (41) extending from a front surface (42); a shutter (43) disposed behind the lens; a metering element (43) disposed on the front surface; and at least one flash device (4S) for generating a light flash.
2. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim I wherein the swivel lock (25) engages the body section (30) at a location adjacent the rear surface (31) of the camera and at a location adjacent the front surface (42) of the camera.
3. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim I further comprising: a rotary connector (51) for coupling battery power from the batteries (27) to components in the body section (30) and for coupling a shutter control signal from shutter button (23) in the handgrip section (20) to the body section (30) to control the shutter.
4. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim I further comprising: flexible wiring for coupling power from the batteries (27) to components in the body section 30) and for coupling a shutter control signal from shutter button (23) in the handgrip section (20) to the body section (30) to control the shutter.
5. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim I wherein the power button (21) further comprises a lock latch (22).
6. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim 1 further comprising a strap connection disposed on the handgrip section (24).
7. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim I wherein the lens (41) comprises a zoom lens (41).
8. The digital camera ( 10) recited in Claim I further comprising a zoom control dial (35) disposed on the rear surface
9. The digital camera (10) recited in Claim 1 wherein the at least one flash device (45) comprises upper and lower flash devices (45a, 45b) disposed at upper and lower surfaces of the body section (30).
10. The digital camera ( 10) recited in Claim I wherein the flash device (45) comprises: a single flash device (45) for generating a light flash; upper and lower reflectors disposed at upper and lower surfaces of the body section (30); and light pipes (49) for directing the light flash to a selected one of the upper and lower reflectors.